Episode Details

Rob Walch returns from Podcast Movement NYC with a recap of the Terminal 5 venue, meetings with industry peers, Captivate’s new partnership with TWiT, and the presentation moment when his screen went black. His talk challenged advice built for podcasting’s top tier and tested the claim that video is now the baseline. Rob shares his comparison of Apple Podcasts downloads for more than 100 shows before and after they added HLS video, along with Acast’s Podcast Pulse findings on audio choice, discovery through social clips, and rising trust in podcasters.

Beyond Podcast Movement, Elsie and Rob discuss Apple Podcasts chapter settings, Spotify’s ad-skipping feature, Apple Podcasts subscription video and new playback features, Threads’ expanded podcast tools, and sponsor reads designed to work for people watching or listening. A reported $140 million SiriusXM deal for Giggly Squad opens a wider conversation about the value Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo built across podcasting, video, social media, touring, publishing, and entertainment. Global also announces the upcoming investigative series A Very British Epstein.

The episode also visits Apple Maps’ Hidden Histories guides, the International Women’s Podcast Awards, and a Talks.co giveaway. The Flattering Ram celebrates Tony Doe’s work on the Nigerian Podcast Index, Rob shares Captivate’s July 2026 download benchmarks and Magellan AI’s estimated August podcast ad spending, and the hosts point listeners toward Rob’s Outlier Edge interview and Seth Resler’s community-building Growth Lab.

Interesting things from this episode

People & Shows

• Podcast Movement New York City 2026
• Giggly Squad
• TWiT.tv’s partnership with DAX and Captivate
• A Very British Epstein
• Tony Doe and Into the Podverse
• Support the Nigerian Podcast Index
• Rob Walch on The Outlier Edge, episode 1037
• From Audience to Community with Seth Resler
• Captivate Growth Labs events calendar
• Captivate Office Hours: October

Apps & Technology

• Apple Podcasts subscription video
• New Apple Podcasts features in iOS 27, tvOS 27, and macOS 27
• Threads podcast tools for creators and listeners

Articles & Episodes